Lely Triastiti, an Advocate for Positive Muslim Representation

Lely Triastiti, also known as Lely Tree, is an illustrator based in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, whose bright, playful work is inspired by everyday life, family, and her multicultural surroundings on the island of Borneo. Specialising in children's books, educational content, and stories that reflect Muslim values, she combines a thoughtful approach, shaped by her background in software engineering and business, with expressive visual storytelling that makes learning engaging, relatable, and fun.

Let’s find out more about Lely, where she finds her inspiration, how her process works, and more:

What would you say is your best piece of work or collaboration to date, and why?

I think my best work is when I draw about life in Indonesia. I love showing our culture, but not only the traditional aspects of it. I’m more interested in illustrating everyday life and small daily moments. Since Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, seeing Muslim identity in everyday activities feels very natural to me, and I enjoy sharing that through my art because it’s a meaningful part of who I am. It feels more honest and personal when I draw something I truly know and experience in my daily life.

Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?

My biggest inspiration comes from the people around me, especially my kids. I love taking morning walks around my neighbourhood and just observing the daily life and small interactions between people. I feel that real life has so many honest stories to tell. To help my visual ideas, I also enjoy looking at art books and Pinterest. Seeing how other artists work helps me learn, but most of my ideas start from the simple things I see and feel in my own environment.

Is there anything you'd say you would be a good advocate for? Please elaborate if so.

I want to be an advocate for a more positive and honest representation of my culture and the Muslim community. Through my art, I hope to show the warmth and beauty of everyday life that people may not often see in the news. I am also very passionate about children’s emotional well-being and education. I want to help kids understand their feelings through my illustrations. I also love sharing knowledge and non-fiction facts in a visual way, to make learning feel easy and fun for everyone.

What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.

I think what sets me apart is my attention to small gestures. I care a lot about how a character moves or holds something, because those tiny details make them feel alive and real. I also love making educational and non-fiction topics feel more relatable for children. I can take a lot of information and turn it into something friendly and full of life. My goal is to make sure that learning never feels boring or stiff, but always feels like an exciting story.

What would you say is something that clients repeatedly come to you for?

Since I’m still very new to the industry, I haven’t had many commercial projects yet, but I’m excited to begin working with clients through the agency. People who see my portfolio often respond to the emotional expressions in my characters. My mentors have also mentioned that my work captures subtle and emotionally layered expressions that feel genuine and relatable. I think those emotional details are what help people connect with my illustrations, and I am ready to use this skill to help clients tell their own unique stories.

How would you describe your style?

I like to describe my style as bright, colourful, and full of life. I pay attention to small gestures and expressions to make my characters feel real and expressive. I also love using textures and colours to create a certain mood and atmosphere. My goal is to make every illustration easy to read, so the storytelling and the emotions can shine through.

Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it — something meaningful to you.

My dream project would be illustrating a picture book for children aged 4 to 8. I would love to work on stories that include Muslim representation, local culture, or simple moments from daily life. I'm also very interested in children's nonfiction, such as biographies or books full of fun facts. I enjoy creating not only human characters but also animals and even objects with personality. For me, a project is meaningful when it combines education with storytelling, helping children learn about the world in a fun and relatable way.

Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?

At the moment, I’m developing a few picture book ideas as part of my portfolio growth. One project I’m currently exploring is depicting a child learning patience and observation, while also highlighting the relationship between parent and child through small everyday moments. I'm also planning to create more personal projects that combine storytelling with fun educational facts. I enjoy exploring ways to make learning feel more engaging for children through illustration.

Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would that be?

If I were to illustrate a book about a real-life person, I would choose Rayouf Alhumedhi, the young girl who proposed the hijab emoji. Her story feels very relatable for children today because it shows how a simple idea and the courage to speak up can create a global impact.

If you’d like more info, please contact [email protected]

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